BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Sphaeralcea coccinea | Scarlet Globemallow 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Scarlet globemallow is a native, warm-season, perennial forb with a
stout woody taproot [34].  Erect or decumbent, this plant is 3 to 12
inches in height (7-30 cm).  Leaves are grayish-green and palmately
lobed; the light pink to brick red flowers are clustered in terminal
spike-like racemes [17].

The roots of scarlet globemallow growing in Saskatchewan have been
described by Coupland and Johnson [5].  Maximum root depth is 40 to 72
inches (1-1.8 cm).  The tap root decreases in diameter from 0.2 inch
(2-5 mm) near the soil surface, to 0.04 inch (1 mm) at the deepest
levels.  There is little or no branching from the taproot in the top 40
inches (1 m) of soil in the central U.S., however in this study one or
two large branches (1-3 mm) are given off 11.8 inches from the surface
(30 cm), each as long as 48 inches (1.2 m).  These branches follow
oblique courses before turning down to parallel the main root.  Smaller
laterals come off throughout the length of the taproot; secondary
branches are scarce.

Scarlet globemallow is found in dry areas and is very drought and
grazing tolerant; it loses its leaves during times of drought [21]
and may actually increase in size in times of drought and overgrazing
[17].

Scarlet globemallow will produce seed prolifically only when moisture is
available; poor seed germination occurs due to a hard seed coat [17].
Scarlet globemallow reproduces mainly vegetatively by rhizomes [7,17].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Chamaephyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Scarlet globemallow has a tendency to reproduce by rhizomes [17] and is a
natural colonizer of disturbed sites [17,39].  While it is debatable
whether scarlet globemallow will invade mine spoils [4,28,39], it does
increase in abundance when the range is disced or burned, perhaps due to
a reduction in competition from other plants [8,17,39].  Scarlet
globemallow is suppressed as disturbed communities mature, although it
is not eliminated [17].

Prolific seed production can occur if moisture is available, however a
hard seed coat prevents prolific seed germination [17].  Roth, Holechek,
and Hussain [30] applied mechanical and chemical treatments to scarlet
globemallow seeds to determine if germination might improve.  Seed
scarification by soaking in sulfuric acid allowed a higher than normal
germination rate, as did soaking in dioxane, an organic material.
Mechanical treatments (i.e., carpel removal and scarification of seed
coat) improved germination, but embryos died withing one week.  Since
dioxane is carcinogenic and highly flammable, sulfuric acid is
recommended to potentially increase the germination rate of native
globemallow species.

Applications of fertilizers seem to have little effect on scarlet
globemallow production [9], except in certain local range conditions
[15].  However, fertilizing globemallow may improve rangeland by reducing
the exploitation of other plants by livestock [19].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Scarlet globemallow grows mainly in dry grassland prairies at elevations
of 3,500 to 9,000 feet (1,067-2,473 m) [7].  Precipitation in the
central and northwestern grassland areas averages 10 to 40 inches
(26-100 cm) falling mostly in summer; temperatures vary from -20
degrees Fahrenheit in winter to 85 degrees Fahrenheit in summer (-29 -
32 degrees C) [11].

Scarlet globemallow growth in specific soils are rated as follows [7]:

                      UT        CO        WY        MT        ND
                    ------    ------    ------    ------    ------

gravel               fair      poor	 fair      poor      fair
sand                 good      fair      good      fair      fair
sandy loam           good      good      good      good      good
loam                 good      good      good      good      good
clay loam            good      good      good      good      good
clay                 fair      fair      fair      fair      fair
dense clay           poor      poor      poor      poor      poor


Scarlet globemallow was most commonly found in sandy loam and loam in a
study in Colorado [20].


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Scarlet globemallow is considered a pioneer on disturbed sites and is
present in early seral stages [31,39].  This species will aggressively
invade an open area, but will not aggressively compete with established
plants, especially grasses.  After infiltrating newly disturbed areas,
scarlet globemallow is somewhat suppressed by competing species as the
community matures, although it maintains a constant presence in the
community; scarlet globemallow will release again if a second
disturbance occurs [17].


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
 Phenologic Event         Date                     Reference
 ----------------         ----                     ---------
  growth starts           March   (New Mexico)     [24]
                          April-May   (Colorado)   [7]
  flowers bloom and
    fruit matures         April-October            [7,24]
  stem elongation         May                      [27]
  fall quiescence         November                 [27]

Related categories for Species: Sphaeralcea coccinea | Scarlet Globemallow